246 Rescued, 78 Fatalities from Illegal Mine in South Africa
Click to start listening
Synopsis
A rescue operation at an abandoned gold mine in South Africa has resulted in the retrieval of 246 survivors and 78 bodies over three days. The police continue to monitor the situation as the search for additional miners unfolds.
Key Takeaways
- 246 illegal miners rescued from a disused gold mine.
- 78 fatalities confirmed during the operation.
- Continuous updates are expected from SAPS.
- Mine Rescue Service plans to investigate further.
- Illegal mining operations have surged in the region.
Johannesburg, Jan 16 (NationPress) A total of 246 survivors and 78 bodies have been brought to the surface over three days of rescue efforts at an abandoned gold mine in South Africa, according to police reports.
In a statement released at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the South African Police Service (SAPS) indicated that 246 illegal miners had been rescued and subsequently arrested since the operation began on Monday at the Stilfontein mine located in the North West Province. The death toll remained at 78, consistent with the previous update given at 4:00 p.m., as reported by Xinhua news agency.
"We cannot confirm if the operation has concluded at this stage," SAPS national spokesperson Athlenda Mathe informed Xinhua.
Her comments followed reports from volunteers involved in the rescue that no additional survivors or bodies were found underground.
Mathe mentioned that the Mine Rescue Service, tasked with overseeing the operation in Stilfontein, plans to send a cage underground on Thursday morning "to check if any illegal miners resurface with the cage."
"We will depend on the Mine Rescue Service to validate this with their advanced equipment. This should provide us with a clearer picture of the underground situation," she elaborated. "We have indicated that the SAPS needs to confirm this information."
The spokesperson noted that further updates regarding the rescue operation would be shared later on Thursday.
The events surrounding the abandoned mine shafts in Stilfontein have been evolving since August 2024, when small groups of illegal miners began to emerge. Since then, at least 1,576 illegal miners have surfaced and been apprehended, predominantly consisting of foreign nationals from neighboring countries, as per previous police declarations.
Numerous gold mines in South Africa that were shut down over the years due to decreasing production have been taken over by illegal foreign miners seeking gold.
